Award-winning indie filmmaker Derick Martini (LYMELIFE with Alec Baldwin and Cynthia Nixon) has teamed up with Brett Easton Ellis on the new psychological thriller THE CURSE OF DOWNERS GROVE. The film, currently in development, will begin production in spring of this year. Martini will direct.

BELLA HEATHCOTE, winner of the Heath Ledger Scholarship Award and one of Variety’s Top Ten Actors to Watch just recently starred in Tim Burton’s DARK SHADOWS and David Chase’s NOT FADE AWAY, will star in THE CURSE OF DOWNERS GROVE with LUCAS TILL (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, STOKER) who recently wrapped on PARANOIA where he stars opposite Gary Oldman, Harrison Ford and Liam Hemsworth. PENELOPE MITCHELL (HEMLOCK GROVE) will also take a leading role.

Heathcote is repped by Medavoy Management and WME, as well as Joanna Milosz in Australia who is also Penelope Mitchell’s Australian agent. Till and Mitchell are both with APA. Till is also repped by Tom Sullivan at WCM Management. Additional cast members to be announced.